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The mosque was built by Çandarlı Halil Paşa the Elder. The construction started in 1378 during the reign of Murad I and finished in 1392. The name of the mosque “Yeşil” (green) refers to the colors of the tiles used on the decoration of the minaret. The minaret made of brick rests on a prismatic marble base. The decoration on it is made of turquoise and dark-purple glazed and unglazed bricks, and bands of tile mosaic. There are also beautifully carved frieze along the eaves and the mouldings on the window frames. The main prayer hall is covered with a dome rising over Turkish triangles and on the north of the prayer hall is extended by an three-bay area transforming the square hall into a rectangle. This was the first example of this kind with an extended prayer hall. In contrast to relatively plain walls of the prayer hall, there lies a beautiful marble mihrab right opposite the entrance.

Halil Hayreddin Pasha the Elder (1364-1387) who was the founder of İznik Yeşil Mosque, was a very successful vizier from the early period of the Ottomans who also had an important role for the new arrangement for recruiting soldiers for the Ottoman army. On his idea, young Christian prisoners of war were first educated and then taken into the army, which will have a worldwide fame Janissaries. They formed the main striking forces of the army in the following centuries until they we abolished by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826 for good.

The Janissaries formed the main force of The Ottoman Army that stroke fear across Europe for centuries. The main source of recruitment of them were devshirmes, It was a systematic procedure of collecting young non-Muslim children from rural Christian families and after conversion educating them to become soldiers along with the education of Islam. Depending on their talent and successes, they served in higher position within the Ottoman military and administrative system.

There is a dilemma between the faith and the lifestyle within the system. The chance of a recruited boy becoming a leading actor within the system was quite high on the expense of changing the faith. Some records mention that some families volunteered for the process. So not the mosque itself as a religious monument but he founder who was regarded as the initiator of the recruiting system for Janissaries provides a good platform to discuss the dilemma between spiritual life and the earthly advantages.

- Direct visit
This is the ideal way but a virtual visit through a PPP presentation prepared by the teacher is also possible.
- Virtual visit (specify how)
A virtual visit through a PPP presentation prepared by the teacher is also possible. It is recommended to use visuals of the Ottoman army and Janissaries.

- Classroom activity (pre- and post- visit)
Pre-visit: Research on conversions of faith (voluntarily or forced)

Post-visit: Discussion on the conversions of faith.